GB2226766A

GB2226766A - Coin pusher amusement machine

Info

Publication number: GB2226766A
Application number: GB8829057A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold John Levy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-13
Filing date: 1988-12-13
Publication date: 1990-07-11
Also published as: GB8829057D0

Abstract

A "pusher" amusement machine is modified to increase the interest thereof by providing an adjunct or alternative to the mere winning of coins. A vertically extending tube 7 contains a stack of cylindrical boxes 8 each one of which holds a coin or non-coin prize. Such prizes may be released one at a time onto a lower horizontal play area (4) either when an inserted coin finds its way through a "gate" to actuate a release mechanism located behind that gate or automatically after a predetermined number of coins has been entered into the machine through "play" slots. Preferably, under the latter circumstances, a randomising chip is included so that prizes are released after an "average" number of coins have been added rather than a constant number. <IMAGE>

Description

GAKE APPARATUS This invention relates to game apparatus of the kind in which at least one substantially horizontal surface located inside a glass or other at least partly transparent cabinet reciprocates and is fed with coins by a person who wishes to use the apparatus, coins added to those already on said surface tending to be pushed, or to push other coins, over the edge of the surface and downwardly onto another substantially horizontal surface or, sometimes, directly into either at least one "win" receiver or at least one "lose" receiver, the former being connected with a location that is accessible to the use of the apparatus whilst the latter is connected to a locked or otherwise secured location which can be periodically emptied by the person or organisation that owns the apparatus.

Amusement apparatus of the kind specified above is well known in several different versions all of which are frequently known as "pusher" machines. An object of the present invention is to increase the interest of such machines by providing an adjunct or alternative to the mere winning of coins. According to the invention, there is provided.amusement apparatus of the kind set forth, wherein means is provided by which the feeding of coins into the apparatus will immediately or eventually cause at least one prize to be supplied to the location that is accessible to a user of the apparatus.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of part of the interior of an amusement machine constructed in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevation illustrating the construction and arrangement of the prize dispenser of the machine of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a plan view corresponding to Fig.

1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the amusement machine that is illustrated is a "pusher" machine of one of a number of different known kinds. Coins 1, which are preferably, but not absolutely essentially, all of the same monetary value are fed by a user of the apparatus on to an upper substantially horizontal surface or play area 2 which reciprocates in known manner and, as coins are added, allows those coins themselves, or further coins already on the area or surface 2, to be pushed over its edge 3 from which they will fall downwardly on to a lower substantially horizontal play area 4.

Coins 1 which fall onto the lower substantially horizontal play area 4 accumulate on that area and, eventually, either fall over its leading edge 5, as seen in Fig. 1, where they fall into a chute and reach a location (not shown) from which they are accessible to the user of the machine or, alternatively, are pushed laterally into "lose" holes 6, from which they fall down chutes to at least one lockable box or other secure location (not shown) from which they can, periodically, be collected by the operator of the machine. It is noted that the lose holes 6 are hidden by stainless steel cover plates which lie above, and substantially parallel to, the lower play area 4 at a spacing thereabove which conveniently, but not essentially, has a magnitude of 19 mm.The machine or apparatus which has so far been described is, to a large extent, of conventional construction but, in accordance with the invention, a user of the apparatus has an alternative to the mere acquisition, or at least return, of coins 1. A substantially vertical tube 7, contains a stack 11 of substantially circular cylindrical boxes 8 each one of which holds a coin or non-coin gift or present. It is not essential that the boxes 8 should be of circular cylindrical configuration and other shapes can equally well be employed. The boxes 8 may be dispensed by the apparatus or machine in one of two different ways.Firstly, there are three coin entries 9 formed in a rearmost perspex sheet of the machine or apparatus from which sheet a plurality f nylon pins (not shown) project forwardly to guide coins added to the apparatus or machine at the top thereof downwardly onto the upper play area 2. A "gate" (not shown) is provided amongst these pins and, when an added coin 1 passes through this gate, a mechanism which dispenses the boxes 8 is actuated to release one of them. In addition, the or each slot or other entry into the apparatus or machine through which coins 1 can be added contains an actuator for a counter and, after a predetermined number of coins 1 have been added, a box 8 is automatically released.The passage of a coin 1 through the gate that has been mentioned, or the release of a box 8 after a predetermined number of coins 1 has been added, automatically resets the counting mechanism to zero. The particular number of coins 1 which must be added through the entry or entries into the machine or apparatus before a box 8 is automatically released is under the control of the proprietor or operator of the machine who can reduce or increase the number as may be required. If desired, a microprocessor chip can be included which will cause release at an 'average' number of added coins, but which will increase and decrease that number on an apparently random basis.This will prevent sharp-eyed players from watching the machines and determining just how many coins have to be added before each box 8 is released so that they will know just when to take over playing on the machine or apparatus just before the release of a box 8 is due.

As previously mentioned, the upper play area 2 reciprocates forwardly and rearwardly and the machine or apparatus is so arranged that, when the release of a box 8 is initiated in one of the two ways that have been described, that release does not actually take place until the play area 2 is at the rearmost reversal point of its reciprocation which may conveniently, but not essentially, have a length of about 80 mm. The actual release is effected by the operation of a solenoid (not shown) which pushes forwardly (i.e. to the left) in the direction indicated by an arrow 10 in Fig. 3. As an alternative to the use of a known commercially available solenoid for this purpose, a socalled cam motor can be temporarily actuated to push the lowermost box 8 of the substantially vertical stack 11 thereof forwardly from the bottom of that stack 11.

In any case, the fact that the play area or surface 2 is at its rearmost point when the release of a box 8 takes place, allows that box 8 to fall directly downwardly onto the main or lower play area 4, without disturbing any of the coins 1 lying on the upper surface of the upper play area 2. Two boxes 8 which have fallen on to the lower play area 4 can be seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It is not essential that the apparatus or machine should be arranged in the manner shown in the drawings, and, if desired, it can be modified in such a way that any box 8 containing a prize that is released from the stack 11 of such boxes can be directly delivered to the chute leading to the location from which a user of the machine or apparatus can obtain access thereto. If this arrangement is employed, it is most desirable indeed that the number of coins 1 which must be fed into the apparatus or machine to effect the release of a box 8 should be "randomized" in the manner briefly discussed since, otherwise, sharp-eyed players will easily be able to determine just how many coins 1 must be fed into the machine or apparatus before the release of the next box 8 will take place.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Amusement apparatus of the kind set forth, wherein means is provided by which the feeding of coins into the apparatus will immediately or eventually cause at least one prize to be supplied to the location that is accessible to a user of the apparatus.

2. Amusement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means comprises a plurality of coin entries formed in a rear sheet of the apparatus from which sheet a plurality of pins project guidingly forwards.

3. Amusement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a "gate" is provided amongst said pins and is so constructed and arranged that, when a player enters a coin in the apparatus and it passes through said gate, a dispensing mechanism is actuated and releases at least one of said prizes.

4. Amusement apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each slot or other entry into the apparatus through which coins can be added contains an actuator for a counter and, after a predetermined number of coins have been added to the apparatus, a prize is automatically released.

5. Amusement apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said counter is so arranged that, immediately following the release of a prize, it is re-set to zero.

6. Amusement apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said mechanism includes means which will cause the release of a prize at an "average" number of added coins, but which will increase and decrease that number on an apparently random basis.

7. Amusement apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said prizes are contained in a stack of substantially circular cylindrical boxes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each prize is contained in a corresponding one of said boxes.

9. Amusement apparatus of the kind set forth, substantially as hereinbefore described with or without reference to the accompanying drawings.